The Oscars in the 1960's

February 29, 2016
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars

The Oscars can be great fun to watch whether you enjoy films or not. It's nice to admire the fashion and to see who attends with whom. Tonight the Oscars were on and while the festivities were happening for the actors and film makers of today, I thought it would be nice to look back at the Oscars from the 1960's.

A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s Oscars
A Vintage Nerd, Old Hollywood Blog, The 1960s OscarsA Vintage Nerd Old Hollywood The 1960s Oscars.
Have you ever watched the Oscars in its entirety? Do you find these awards shows tiresome or fun? If you are every interested in looking back at the Oscars of yesteryear, try looking through Youtube so you can find heaps of cool snippets from bygone Oscars.

A Vintage Nerd Supplementary Reading:




Ode To Twin Peaks

February 24, 2016
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture

Even though I normally post on my pop culture segments on tuesdays, today actually marks the 26th Anniversary of the mysterious and tragic Laura Palmer's death. It also marks the day that the dapper Agent Cooper came to the seemingly quiet town of Twin Peaks to help solve her murder. So today I bring you a dose of pop culture with my ode to Twin Peaks in celebration of  national Twin Peaks Day!

I know a lot of people debate whether or not the 90's can be classified as vintage but a heap of good stuff did come out of the 90's. I normally don't embrace the 90's but I have been making an effort to like it more. I wore all the typical fashions back then and maybe one day I will share some pictures if you like. I did the brown matte lipstick, baby doll dresses with doc marten boots. It was fun and I can totally see the appeal of the those styles coming back because frankly they were simultaneously funky and comfy. You can't beat that combo! But the one thing from the 90's that I still revisit today isn't the fashion but rather the films and tv shows that were on in that time.

We have shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Highlander, Xena: Warrior Princess, and films like Clueless, Mallrats, and Reality Bites that are just insanely good and worth revisiting. One such show is Twin Peaks. Its level of artistry still resonates with viewers today.

With Twin Peaks we were immediately thrown into the mystery of solving the tragic murder of the teen prom queen, Laura Palmer. That very first episode we quickly get introduced to all of the towns quirky residents like Laura, Agent Cooper, Sheriff Harry S. Truman, Audrey Horne, The Log Lady and so many more. If you were watching it back in the 90's you either loved it or were weirded out by it. I was both. Just last year I re-watched it and the film as well, falling more in love with the magic that David Lynch weaves into our minds.

Here is my very own Ode to Twin Peaks inspired outfit with of course some vintage inspiration in mind. I modeled my outfit from both the styles of the characters of Laura Palmer and Audrey Horne. They were almost always dressed with a vintage flare and I always loved that classic style.

I had so much fun with this shoot and dressing up. Its such a doable and easy outfit to put together. I scored each piece via sales so it was also very affordable.

I hope for those of you who are fans of the show and fans of David Lynch that you enjoy the details from the show that I added into my shoot. Even the background has a special meaning. For those of you who don't know about this show, I say go ahead and check it out. Keep your mind open and let the art of the story speak for itself.

A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture
A Vintage Nerd, Twin Peaks Fashion, Vintage Fashion Blog, Retro Fashion Bowties, Pop Culture

Outfit: Red Cardigan from Old Navy, White Blouse from Boden, Black Plaid Skirt from Modcloth, Owl Brooch is Vintage, Laura Palmer Bow Tie from The Vintage Beau, Owl Cave Ring from Chemical Plant Zone, Agent Cooper Mug from JandAWares.


AVN Fashion Review 2015

February 11, 2016
A Vintage Nerd, 1960s Fashion Inspiration, Nerd Style, A Vintage Nerd Fashion Review, Retro Fashion Blog

Here's another year of dressing up under my belt! Although I dress up as much as I can I really feel as though I didn't dress up as much as I wanted to.

One of the things I love about being a vintage blogger is that it has made me aware of the importance of taking care of myself. It has also encouraged me, as weird as it may sound, to step outside of the box and dress the way I feel. The mommy look is super comfortable and works well when I am playing with my children, but there is something nice about putting in the time and effort to spruce myself up with some nice clothes.

If I am unable to dress head-to-toe in vintage (usually the only reason is finding something in my size and style) I dress up with as much of a vintage feel as I possibly can. I know the other moms at school events might think I am weird but I don't do it for them. I do it because it compliments the person I am on the inside as I am able to express it through fashion on the outside. I hope that makes sense.

Here are some of my looks from the past year. Here's hoping for more opportunities to dress up and more fun in expressing myself through vintage fashion.
A Vintage Nerd, 1960s Fashion Inspiration, Nerd Style, A Vintage Nerd Fashion Review, Retro Fashion Blog
A Vintage Nerd, 1960s Fashion Inspiration, Nerd Style, A Vintage Nerd Fashion Review, Retro Fashion Blog
A Vintage Nerd, 1960s Fashion Inspiration, Nerd Style, A Vintage Nerd Fashion Review, Retro Fashion Blog
A Vintage Nerd, 1960s Fashion Inspiration, Nerd Style, A Vintage Nerd Fashion Review, Retro Fashion Blog
When I was putting together this post I found it so much fun to look back at 2014's fashion review. I think it would be neat if you were able to look back at your year of fashion. Maybe you will see some things that worked best for you than others or like me, find it fun to look at all the styles that were experimented with throughout the year. If you have looked back, let me know all about it.

A 40th Birthday To Remember

February 08, 2016
A Vintage Nerd, 40th Birthday Celebration, Tea & Sympathy

Gee whiz I'm 40! I can clearly remember the day I put together my 39 Things Before I Turn 40 list and shared with you all. And now the day has come and I want to share with you what it was like for me.

Let's start with  the blizzard of 2016 hitting my side of the world the day before my birthday. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. I really want to delve into having more adventures. I'm still going to be my cautious, don't take any unnecessary risks, semi-paranoid New York self but I am going to be more aware of the opportunities to try something new. And new it was. I've never went out after a blizzard let alone with three children. But we actually managed to have a lot of fun with it.

Luckily my husband understands my need for grabbing the moment and he helped me bundle up the kiddies and we trudged it through the piles of snow because the city did not plow through Queens at all and walked to the train station. Do not even ask me how I got down the stairs to the train. Okay who am I kidding. when you share an adventure with someone, share all of it right? I went down on my rear! Yeap. It's true. They didn't clean that area either and honestly if I didn't I may have risked breaking something so that was a first (and last!).  But we made it through, the kids and I laughed the whole time. They loved the adventure of it all.

The trains were on time and surprisingly full. We made it to the Film Forum by the skin of our teeth. Ethan Hawke was already inside the theater awaiting to watch the film with the rest of us. Ethan Hawke. Yeap. See why I had to trudge it through the snow. We made it all the way down into the city (Manhattan) and I previously purchased tickets for us all to see Explorers (1985) on the big screen. The movie meant a lot to be as a kid and seeing it on the big screen was just as magical as I hoped it would be.

New Yorkers are odd ducks when it comes to celebrities and such. We tend to ignore them even though we are shopping for groceries right next to say, Julianne Moore so everyone walked out of the theater not waiting for Ethan Hawke (the star of that film, his first) and weren't even phased by it. But you see I trudged through insane amounts of snow with three small kids and with my disability I had to be extra careful, two trains later, and walking through Manhattan to get to see him. I just couldn't let this opportunity pass up especially because of all the birthdays I've had, to me this is the most special.

I wore my birthday crown from Crown and Glory and people were so nice to wish me a Happy Birthday. The kids were confused to why I was waiting but my usually shy husband even chimed in and got Mr. Hawke's attention. I got a chance to tell him how much that film meant to me. Although he said he found to film to be a weird one, to me it was about adventure. About daring to do what people wished they could but were too afraid to do it. He graciously took a photo with me and was so kind. I think the birthday crown helped.

Afterwards we went to Tea and Sympathy, my favorite restaurant in the city and although it was an hour wait in the cold, I knew every morsel would be worth it (don't worry, the kids were kept warm in another area). The food was as scrumptious as it usually is and it was the first time I took my whole family. I've taken my husband and once my youngest but not everyone together. And I am happy to say they all love English food and each has asked to come back. Whoot!
A Vintage Nerd, 40th Birthday Celebration, Tea & Sympathy

A Vintage Nerd, 40th Birthday Celebration, Tea & Sympathy
A Vintage Nerd, 40th Birthday Celebration, Tea & Sympathy
We made it back to Queens safely but we were all very cold and cranky. It really was an adventure of a lifetime. Trudging through the snow with children and using public transportation is not something we do everyday and my husband and I both agreed this was an adventure that will never be repeated again but at least we did it! My first day of my 40's and I truly started it out with a proper bang.

I then came home to presents, some neat decor my husband put up for me earlier, and a cake we bought at Tea & Sympathy. My biggest gift is actually going to be traveling to the UK this fall. I haven't been back in a few years and I am so excited that its actually going to happen! I will share more of that in the months to come.

Turning 40 for me has really reminded me that there is no better time than the now to seize the day. As Professor John Keating said to his students in Dead Poets Society, Carpe Diem, Sieze the Day.

Must See TV: Downton Abbey Final Season

February 04, 2016
A Vintage Nerd, Downton Abbey Final Season, Must See TV, Period TV Shows

With baited breath we have all waited for the arrival of the final season for Downton Abbey. Throughout this past six years we have all be transported back in time to a world of titles and old money. The show gave us a glimpse inside what life could have been like for the rich and privileged as well as for those who were not. We all got entangled in their lives, their romances, and their tragedies. We cried when they cried and we took deep sighs at all the gorgeous clothes that Lady Mary and Lady Edith got to wear.

I know that for those in the UK who are fans of this show, you have already seen and know what happens to our beloved characters. Here in the states it is showing on PBS, with a new episode every week so the ending is close but it has not happened as of yet.

I watched it all in one big swoop because I placed the dvds right at the top of my queue on Netflix. I wanted to be able to rewind and look back at some scenes. I can tell you there is one scene in episode four that I actually rewatched five times. I am not kidding. And every time, I cried. Its just that good.

Because there are many who haven't viewed this final season in its entirety just yet I made sure not to share photos on this post that could give hints to anything unfolding or not happening. I just wanted to share with you my opinion in that this season is the best of Downton Abbey. This is just the best written season with the most surprises and delights.

It saddens me that such good writing with such beloved characters may not be seen again. When I went to a special event for Downton Abbey a few years back (view HERE) everyone in the audience agreed that the show could easily go on to the second world war. The cast loved hearing that and hoped that it would happen. So. here's to hoping Mr. Fellows does not take away this incredible family and their epic stories away from us entirely. For now we do have this season and the rest of the seasons to look back on.

I never thought of owning the seasons on dvd but after watching this last one, I feel like I almost have to. I want to go back into that world and keep peaking at all the glorious furniture and hats and cars and dinnerware. Its all so incredibly beautiful. A true bounty for the eyes.

I won't share any spoilers but perhaps after some time has passed I will revisit some of my favorite scenes from Downton Abbey especially from season 6 for you. Until then I will leave you with this, you will not be disappointed. This season is truly a masterpiece.

A Vintage Nerd, Downton Abbey Final Season, Must See TV, Period TV Shows
A Vintage Nerd, Downton Abbey Final Season, Must See TV, Period TV Shows
A Vintage Nerd, Downton Abbey Final Season, Must See TV, Period TV Shows
A Vintage Nerd, Downton Abbey Final Season, Must See TV, Period TV Shows

Are you a fan of Downton Abbey? Have you ever visited Highclere Castle where it was filmed? Looking back at all the seasons, who do you find yourself rooting for the most? Do you hope the saga at Downton Abbey continues in some form ie a film?
 
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